Attaching assembly for sheet material

ABSTRACT

A two-piece assembly is provided for attaching sheet material, such as polyethylene film, to greenhouses and the like. An elongated base member is secured to a support and includes a channel longitudinally therealong for receiving a portion of the sheet material therein and which also receives a material holding element having a configuration corresponding to that of the channel, the member and the element cooperating to releasably clamp the portion of the material in the channel. The element is nested in the channel in a manner that a pulling tension on the material serves to further tighten the clamping action of the element with the member, thus insuring a positive holding action. The element is further provided with a longitudinally extending flange in order that a screwdriver or similar tool may be utilized to pry the element out of the channel to facilitate easy removal or replacement of the sheet material.

limited States Patent [191 Stuppy et a1.

[ 4] ATTACHING ASSEMBLY FOR SHEET MATERIAL [75] Inventors: Francis X.Stuppy, Greenwood;

Emmett Stephenson, Raytown, both of Mo.

[73] Assignee: Stuppy Flora, Inc., North Kansas Ciy, Mo.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 301,091

[52] US. Cl. 24/243 K [51] Int. Cl A44b 21/00 [58] Field of Search24/243 K, 243 M, 243 N,

24/30.5 R, 30.5 L, 72.5; 16/93 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,699,610 10/1972 Harby 16/93 D 3,141,221 7/1964 Faulls 24/30.5R 3,426,412 2/1969 Streng et a1... 24/243 K 3,621,539 11/1971 Ayers24/30.5 R

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,245,940 10/1960 France 24/243 K 5/1949Great Britain 24/243 K Apr. 16, 1974 18,945 5/1956 Germany 24/243 KPrimary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schmidt,Johnson, Hovey & Williams 57 ABSTRACT A two-piece assembly is providedfor attaching sheet material, such as polyethylene film, to greenhousesand the like. An elongated base member is secured to a support andincludes a channel longitudinally therealong for receiving a portion ofthe sheet material therein and which also receives a material holdingelement having a configuration corresponding to that of .the channel,the member and the element cooperating to releasably clamp the portionof the material in the channel. The element is nested in the channel ina manner that a pulling tension on the material serves to furthertighten the clamping action of the element with the member, thusinsuring a positive holding action. The element is further provided witha longitudinally extending flange in order that a screwdriver or similartool may be utilized to pry the element out of the channel to facilitateeasy removal or replacement of the sheet material.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ATTACHING ASSEMBLY FOR SHEET MATERIAL Thisinvention relates to an assembly for attaching sheet material to asupport, an example of which is the construction of a temporary orsemi-permanent greenhouse structure comprised of a framework over whichsheet material, such as polyethylene film, is stretched to form anenclosure. Frequently these structures are provided with varioustemperature and other atmospheric controlling devices which require thatthe enclosure be relatively tight to seal out the outside weather yetmust be of a nature that permits at least partial disassembly during theoff season while at the same time being low cost both from thestandpoint of materials used and the labor involved in assembly anddisassembly.

In this connection then, it has become a readily accepted practice toemploy the use of polyethylene film which heretofore has been attachedto a framework through the use of laths or strips of wood which arenailed to the support in such a manner that the film is disposed betweenthe lath and the support and thus held in place. This has been less thansatisfactory, however, because of the tendency for the plastic materialto tear at the point that the nails are driven through the lath and thefilm and because of the wind action which tends to cause the film topull loose thus making the structure less than air tight in additiondamaging the polyethylene film.

It is therefore a very important object of our invention to provide anassembly for .quickly and easily attaching sheet material in thenatureof polyethylene film to a framework such as might be found in theconstruction of greenhouses and the like.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide anattaching assembly for sheet material in which the material is clampedby the assembly and held without damage to the material such as by thepuncturing of holes therein.

A still further important object of our invention is the provision of amaterial holding assembly in which the material is positively held andin which increased tension on the material will increase the grip of theassembly on the. material thus clamping it tighter.

A still further important object of the invention is the provision of amaterial holding assembly by which a holding element is releasably heldin a channel without the use of auxilliary fasteners yet which iscapable of being easily and quickly removed from the channel.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a greenhouse or the likeemploying the use of a sheet material covering, such as polyethylenefilm, which is attached to a framework through the use of an attachingassembly for sheet material made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, exploded, crosssectional viewillustrating the relative dispositions of a base member and holdingelement of the attaching assembly with respect to the sheet material asthey would appear immediately prior to insertion of the material and theholding element into a channel of the base member;

FIG. 3 is fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating theholding element and thematerial partially inserted in the channel of thebase member; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating thematerial holding assembly as it would appear when in clamping engagementwith the sheet material.

An assembly, broadly designated by the numeral 10, is provided for theattachment of sheet material, such as polyethylene film or the likeidentified by the numeral 12, for use in constructing a greenhouse 14 orfor use in other situations where it is desired to releasably hold apiece of sheet material such as for swimming pool covers, silo covers,or for construction protection.

The assembly 10 is comprised of an elongated base member 16 adapted tobe attached to a support, such as a sideboard 18, which inturn isaffixed to a frame structure 20 of the greenhouse 14. The member 16 maybe attached in any conventional manner such as through the use offlathead screws, (not shown) which cooperate with pre-punched holes (notshown) provided in the member 16.

The member 16 may be of any desired length depending on the particularapplication, with ten foot lengths normally being recommended, or may becut into shorter lengths for following various contours such as for agable end of the structure 20. Disposed longitudinally along the member16 is a generally C-shaped channel 22 having an arcuate surface 24disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the member 16 and anopening 26 which is of a lesser transverse width than that of thecorresponding transverse width of the channel 22 itself.

The assembly 10 further includes an elongated material holding element28 also being generally C-shaped in transverse cross sectioncorresponding to the configuration of the channel 22 and likewiseincluding an arcuate surface 30 disposed longitudinally therealong andtransverse to the longitudinal axis of the element 28. It is to be herenoted that the arc of curvature of the surface 24 of the channel 22 issomewhat larger than is the arc of curvature of the surface 30 of theelement 28. An elongated arm 32' extends longitudinally along the entirelength of the element 28 and defines the normally lower leg of theC-shaped element 28. Elongated flange means 34 and 36, perpendicular tothe arms 32, extend longitudinally along the outer edge of the arm 32and are disposed exteriorly of the channel 22 when the element 28 isnested therein.

Means for retaining the element 28 in the channel 22 are provided in theform of an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg 38 which is apart of the member 16 and extends longitudinally therealong adjacent thenormally upper edge of the channel 22, the transverse distance betweenthe arm 32 and the leg 38 defining the previously mentioned opening 26.The leg terminates in an arcuate, enlarged, material engageable lip 40coextensive in length with the leg 38. A series of interlocking, opposedand relatively offset ribs 42 and 44 are provided on the arm 32 of theelement 28 and on a normally lower arm 46 of the member 16 respectively.The ribs 42 and 44 extend longitudinally along their respective arms 32and 46, the ribs 44 being disposed in the cavity 22 while the ribs 42are on the normally lower or underside of the leg 32. A plastic orrubber beading, partially embedded in the arm 32, might be provided inlieu of the ribs 42; the beading being seated between the ribs 44 whenthe element 28 is inserted in to the channel 22.

In addition to the leg 38 and the ribs 42 and 44, the element retainingmeans also includes an elongated, transversely arcuate stretch 48extending longitudinally along the element 28 and defining the normallyupper leg thereof. The stretch 48 is disposed behind the leg 38 when theelement 28 is in the channel 22 such that the arcuate surfaces 24 and 30are in their opposed relationship. The member 16 and the element 28 maybe made of any convenient, durable, lightweight material such asextruded aluminum.

In use, the member 16 is attached to the sideboard 18 as previouslydescribed and in a position to permit the material 12 to be stretchedover the structure 20 as seen in FIG. 1. The material 12 is thenpositioned relative to the member 16 such that a portion 50 of thematerial is adjacent the opening 26, it being noted that sufficientlength is provided to permit the material to extend beneath or beyondthe assembly at all times. The element 28 is then inserted into thechannel 22 such that the arcuate stretch 48 is leading and enters thechannel first, forcing the portion 50 of the material 12 throughthe'opening 26 as seen in FIG. 3. After the arcuate stretch 48 has beendisposed behind the leg 38, the arm 32 is then pressed into the cavitysuch that the portion 50 is not only disposed between the member 16 andelement 28 but is also clamped or gripped between the cooperating ribs42 and 44. A light pressure on the flanges 34 and 36 is normallysufficient to insert the arm 32 into the channel 22. I

The fact that the element 28 must be tilted about its longitudinal axissuch that the stretch 48 leads when inserted through the opening 26 andinto the channel 22 permits the stretch 48 to be nested behind the leg38 preventing the element from being pulled out of the channel 22 inresponse to any pulling force thay may be applied through the material12 such as by winds, stretching or otherwise. In fact, a force such asjust described would tend to tighten the clamping action of the element28 on the portion 50 of the material in that the stretch 48 would bepulled into tighter contact with the material in the region of the leg38 and the lip 40. The ribs 42 and 44 sufficiently grip the portion 50of the material to prevent its being pulled through the cavity 22 duringthe exertion of such previously mentioned tension.

The removal of the element 28 to release the material 12 from theassembly 10 is easily accomplished by inserting a screwdriver or otherprying tool behind the flange 34 such that the shank of thescrewdriverpivots about the lip 40 which serves as a fulcrum point and, by exertingpressure on the handle of the screwdriver in the direction of theframework the arm 32 of the element 28 is pried outwardly from thechannel 22 thus releasing the latter and the clamped portion 50 of thematerial 12. An alternate to the use of a screwdriver or other pryingtool is the provision of an element inserting and removing tool (notshown) having elongated, opposed lips which are placed behind thestretch 48 and the flange 34 to swing the element 28 into and out of thechannel 22 as previously described.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that there hasbeen here disclosed a novel assembly for the attachment of polyethylenefilm or other sheet material which permits quickand economicalinstallation of the same in a positive manner, does not have a tendencyto become loose or otherwise unattached and does not require puncturingor otherwise tearing of the material in order to firmly attach the same.The assembly 10 is particularly well-suited for use in providingrelatively tight enclosures which are of a temporary nature and whichare subject to repeated assembly and disassembly. The interlockingfeature of the assembly 10 permits unlimited re-use thereof inasmuch asthe assembly 10 is not susceptible to damage during the course of normaluse.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising:

a rigid, shape-retaining base member adapted to be attached to a supportand having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration;

therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion ofsheet material therein; and

a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into saidchannel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverseconfiguration similar to that of said channel whereby said element isnested in said channel when inserted therein, j

said member and said element each being elongated and having a normallylower, laterally and outwardly extending arm disposed longitudinallytherealong,

said base and said element being provided with retaining'means, whichincludes gripping means co operatively located on said arms, forreleasably holding said elementin said channel when the elementis nestedtherein in said non-deformed condition and said portion of material isdisposed in the channel between the member and the element, said portionof material thereby being clamped and held therebeing a channel disposedin said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and arigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into saidchannel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverseconfiguration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said elementis nested in said channel when. inserted therein, i

said member and said element being elongated with said channel extendinglongitudinally along said member,

said channel and said element being generally C- shaped in transversecross-section.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said member presents achannel opening which is of a lesser transverse width than thecorresponding transverse width of said element.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channel and saidelement each include an arcuate surface disposed transversely of theirrespective longituditherebeing a channel disposed in said base forreceiving a portion of sheet material therein; and

a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into saidchannel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverseconfiguration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said elementis nested in said channel when inserted therein,

said retaining means further includes an angular, normally downwardlyprojecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent saidchannel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said elementfrom said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material ina direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects,

said leg is fixed relative to said member and includes an arcuate,non-deformable, enlarged, material engaging lip rigidly extendinglongitudinally along said leg.

8. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising:

a base member adapted to be attached to a support;

therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion ofsheet material therein; and

a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into saidchannel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverseconfiguration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said elementis nested in said channel when inserted therein,

said retaining means further includes an angular, normally downwardlyprojecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent saidchannel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said elementfrom said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material ina direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects,

said retaining means further includes an elongated,

transversely arcuate stretch extending longitudinally along said elementand adapted to be disposed behind said leg when said element is in saidchannel.

9. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising:

a base member adapted to be attached to a support;

therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion ofsheet material therein; and a material holding element insertable intosaid channel and having a configuration corresponding to that of saidchannel whereby said element is nested in said channel when insertedtherein, said base and said element being provided with retaining meansfor releasably holding said element in said channel when the element isnested therein and said portion of material is disposed in the channelbetween the member and the element, said portion of material therebybeing clamped and held between the member and the element, saidretaining means including an angular, normally downwardly projecting legextending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel andadapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from saidchannel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material in adirection generally opposite to that at which said leg projects, saidretaining means further including an elongated,

transversely arcuate stretch extending longitudinally along said elementand adapted to be disposed behind said leg when said element is in saidchannel, said element including an elongated, longitudinally extendingarm in spaced parallelism with said stretch, said arm having flangemeans extending longitudinally therealong and disposed exteriorly ofsaid channel when said element is nested therein. 10. An assembly asclaimed in claim 9 wherein said flange means extends perpendicularly inopposite directions from said arm.

1. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising: a rigid,shape-retaining base member adapted to be attached to a support andhaving a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration;therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion ofsheet material therein; and a rigid, shape-retaining material holdingelement insertable into said channel and having a substantiallynon-deformable, transverse configuration similar to that of said channelwhereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein,said member and said element each being elongated and having a normallylower, laterally and outwardly extending arm disposed longitudinallytherealong, said base and said element being provided with retainingmeans, which includes gripping means cooperatively located on said arms,for releasably holding said element in said channel when the element isnested therein in said non-deformed condition and said portion ofmaterial is disposed in the channel between the member and the element,said portion of material thereby being clamped and held between themember and the element.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid retaining means further includes an angular, normally downwardlyprojecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent saidchannel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said elementfrom said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material ina direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects.
 3. Asheet material attaching assembly comprising: a base member adapted tobe attached to a support; therebeing a channel disposed in said base forreceiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid,shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channeland having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configurationcorresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested insaid channel when inserted therein, said member and said element beingelongated with said channel extending longitudinally along said member,said channel and said element being generally C-shaped in transversecross-section.
 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said memberpresents a channel opening which is of a lesser transverse width thanthe corresponding transverse width of said element.
 5. An assembly asclaimed in claim 4 wherein said channel and said element each include anarcuate surface disposed transversely of their respective longitudinalaxes and opposite one another to clamp said material portiontherebetween when said element is nested in the channel, the arcuatesurface of said channel having a larger arc of curvature than thearcuate surface of said element.
 6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5wherein said element and said member are provided with longitudinallyextending interlocking ribs for gripping said material portion when thelatter and said element are disposed in said channel.
 7. A sheetmaterial attaching assembly comprising: a base member adapted to beattached to a support; therebeing a channel disposed in said base forreceiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid,shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channeland having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configurationcorresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested insaid channel when inserted therein, said retaining means furtherincludes an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extendinglongitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted torestrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when apulling tension is Exerted on said material in a direction generallyopposite to that at which said leg projects, said leg is fixed relativeto said member and includes an arcuate, non-deformable, enlarged,material engaging lip rigidly extending longitudinally along said leg.8. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising: a base member adaptedto be attached to a support; therebeing a channel disposed in said basefor receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid,shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channeland having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configurationcorresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested insaid channel when inserted therein, said retaining means furtherincludes an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extendinglongitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted torestrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when apulling tension is exerted on said material in a direction generallyopposite to that at which said leg projects, said retaining meansfurther includes an elongated, transversely arcuate stretch extendinglongitudinally along said element and adapted to be disposed behind saidleg when said element is in said channel.
 9. A sheet material attachingassembly comprising: a base member adapted to be attached to a support;therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion ofsheet material therein; and a material holding element insertable intosaid channel and having a configuration corresponding to that of saidchannel whereby said element is nested in said channel when insertedtherein, said base and said element being provided with retaining meansfor releasably holding said element in said channel when the element isnested therein and said portion of material is disposed in the channelbetween the member and the element, said portion of material therebybeing clamped and held between the member and the element, saidretaining means including an angular, normally downwardly projecting legextending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel andadapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from saidchannel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material in adirection generally opposite to that at which said leg projects, saidretaining means further including an elongated, transversely arcuatestretch extending longitudinally along said element and adapted to bedisposed behind said leg when said element is in said channel, saidelement including an elongated, longitudinally extending arm in spacedparallelism with said stretch, said arm having flange means extendinglongitudinally therealong and disposed exteriorly of said channel whensaid element is nested therein.
 10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9wherein said flange means extends perpendicularly in opposite directionsfrom said arm.